SYRIA Al-Monitor's Fehim Taştekin reports on Turkey's plan to avoid heavy combat in Idlib province: Based on leaks to the media and information learned on the ground, a comprehensive strategy is emerging: Turkey wants to give the appearance of having deterrent power with its own military assets and to set up a joint front with … Continue reading Middle East update: August 23 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN The Taliban may be attending Afghan peace talks in Russia next month, but the Afghan government said on Wednesday that it will not. Kabul cited its desire for "direct talks" with the Taliban but offered no reason why it up and decided not to go after it initially appeared receptive to the idea … Continue reading World update: August 22 2018

SYRIA Hayat Tahrir al-Sham boss Abu Mohammad al-Julani made a rare public statement on Wednesday, promising to fight any Syrian government attack on Idlib and warning that any rebel group that surrenders to Damascus will be guilty of "treason." Meanwhile, during a visit to Jerusalem Donald Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, said that the US is … Continue reading Middle East update: August 22 2018

CLIMATE CHANGE Building off of last night's update, here's some more fantastic climate news: The oldest and thickest sea ice in the Arctic has started to break up, opening waters north of Greenland that are normally frozen, even in summer. This phenomenon – which has never been recorded before – has occurred twice this year … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: August 21 2018

ASIA GEORGIA The Georgian and Iranian governments have gotten themselves into a row after Georgian security forces allegedly forced several Iranian women to remove their headscarves at Tblisi International Airport. The Georgian government says it's investigated the charge and found no evidence that the women were mistreated. What's interesting here is that many Iranian women … Continue reading Asia/Oceania/Africa update: August 21 2018

SYRIA Although it hasn't gotten a lot of coverage in Western media, conditions inside Idlib are pretty dangerous even if you leave aside the regular Syrian and Russian airstrikes. Which makes sense--you can only cram but so many hostile rebel factions into one space before they start taking it out on one another: Targeted killings … Continue reading Middle East update: August 21 2018

As always when I take a few days off we're going to skip over what happened while I was gone unless absolutely necessary. CLIMATE CHANGE Don't look now but parts of the Arctic permafrost aren't permanently frosted anymore: Every winter across the Arctic, the top few inches or feet of soil and rich plant matter … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: August 20 2018

As always when I take a few days off we're going to skip over what happened while I was gone unless absolutely necessary. ASIA AFGHANISTAN Over the weekend, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani extended an offer for a months-long ceasefire to the Taliban contingent on their favorable response. On Monday, they responded, but not favorably: The … Continue reading Asia/Oceania/Africa update: August 20 2018

As always when I take a few days off we're going to skip over what happened while I was gone unless absolutely necessary. HAJJ First of all, Hajj Mubarak to those who are undertaking the pilgrimage despite the apparently heavy rains. The Guardian has put together a nice photo essay on this year's Hajj. If … Continue reading Middle East update: August 20 2018